Peshawar, February 10 PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated on Tuesday that Pakistan's decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India was solely aimed at securing "respect" for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh was eliminated from the tournament for refusing to play in India due to security concerns.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan government announced that its national team would not take the field against India for their group game in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo.
However, after negotiations between the PCB, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and the International Cricket Council, the Pakistan government rescinded the boycott order late Monday night.
"We did not discuss anything except Bangladesh; our sole purpose was to ensure that Bangladesh received the respect they deserved, and to highlight the injustice they had faced. And you saw that whatever demands Bangladesh made, they were accepted," Naqvi said.
"We had no personal interest in the meeting; our task was purely related to Bangladesh. The government made the decision based on that.
"Once their demands have been accepted, and it has been acknowledged that they were treated unfairly, we will play the match," he added.
Naqvi had met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Aminul Islam, and ICC deputy chair, Imran Khwaja, in Lahore on Sunday, to resolve the standoff over Pakistan's proposed boycott of the T20 World Cup match against India.
"In light of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," the Pakistan government stated in a press release on Monday.
"...this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations," the statement from the Pakistan government added.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also received a call from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who had also urged him to allow the team to play the match.
